Hernandez was taken to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The Prius driver, Qin Zhang, 32, of Brooklyn, was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue, police said.

The 8:45 p.m. crash closed all lanes of Montauk Highway at Broadway Avenue for several hours as police investigated. Photos of the collision showed only the front part of the Malibu; the back half was ripped away in the wreck. Early Thursday, the eastbound Montauk Highway remained closed, police said.

The investigation is continuing, police said, and both vehicles were impounded for safety checks. Detectives ask anyone with information about this crash to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.